\Because i was lucky enough to be the right age to have gone to hundreds of concerts
at the Fillmore and winterland etc in the "old days" i had the fortune to be able to
meet and speak informally with many of the legends. This isnt as big a deal as people
might think given the modern age of celebrity artists with their limos, entoureages,
and body guards. The biggest stars in the business never had body guards and or
entourages. They were really no different than any of us and they honestly felt that
way. To be able to converse with them was as easy as going right up to them behind the
stage at Winterland where they often sat listening to the other acts. Everything
changed after Woodstock. Two bands in particular (The Stones and Led Zepplin) led the
rest of the industry down the path it has been on for some time with overbearing
"security" and asshole bodyguards beating up innocenmt bystanders who happen to be by
the door that the "STAR" is about to enter. On the other hand p!
!
eople like Joni Mitchell live in
a fishbowl and the exposure that the stars get in the media and all its forms makes
them recognizeable beyond any degree they used to be. I certainly cant imagine what it
must be like to live in a world where your every move is idolized and or criticized
publicly so I dont hold their aversion to chatting with normal people against them per
se. One false move, one wrong comment and the entire world can be down on you. I also
think that someone like Joni is far more likely to do something like she did in the
clothing store than she would be to stop in the middle of her dinner and have a
discussion with a fan or go out of her way to stop outside a restaraunt and have a
chat. They must pick their shots carefully. It thrilled me that she did the few things
she has like the art exhibits in LA and Canada in which she had alot of face time with
all kinds of people. How many other artists have done things like that.
marcel deste
